How to grow Field Horsetail

Equisetum arvense

digging tends to be counterproductive as it encourages plant to spread. Cut to ground every time it gets over 50 cm and it eventually weakens. Expect to spend years before it gives up completely, but it will come back more slowly every time. Herbicides are ineffective.

An alternate strategy is to outcompete it with large dense shrubs. Or you could plant a lawn—the frequent mowing will exhaust it.

How long does Field Horsetail take to grow?

These estimates for how long Field Horsetail takes to sprout, grow and harvest are from real observations from real gardeners, right around the world.

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Field Horsetail Etymology

The botanical epithet is from the Latin arvense meaning “greasy”, “plain”, or "like lard ".¹

Other names for Field Horsetail

Cola de caballo

Equisetum arvense L.

Footnotes

¹ Latin Dictionary